How to recognize spam emails

Millions of spam emails are sent worldwide every day. In this practical tip, we will explain how you can recognize them.

Spam emails - how to recognize them

1. Definition: Spam emails are unwanted email messages that are now being sent in bulk. The sender's goal is either to buy their product or to open a website or email attachment. A virus is usually hidden in the latter.
2. Language: Surprisingly, you receive an email in English, although you have nothing to do with foreign services, this is a first sign. You can delete emails that contain many spelling mistakes or that appear to have been translated word for word into German using a translation program. What doesn't seem serious cannot be important.
3. Content: Most spam emails reveal themselves directly through their dubious content. You are often offered high profits or free products. Even if you are not addressed by your last name, the mail is usually not serious. Also check whether you know the sender or have anything to do with the person or the company.
4. Attachment: You should never open the attachment of a potential spam email. In most cases, a virus lands on your PC that you cannot easily remove. Viruses are usually packaged in ZIP files. So it is not immediately recognizable that it is a dangerous EXE file. At first glance, the malware often looks like a document and is disguised by a supposedly harmless file extension - for example, "bill.pdf". The actual ending is invisible, ".pdf" is only a part of the name.
5. Left: Even if you want to open links, you should be extremely careful. Especially when it comes to short addresses like "bit.ly" or "zumlink.de", you cannot see which website you will be forwarded to. Even links that say nothing can be classified as dubious (see picture).
6. Google: If you are not sure whether the email might not be important, just google the sender's name and email address. Most senders of spam have already made a bad name for themselves on the Internet. Such addresses are collected in many forums and on a number of websites, so that you can usually unmask the negative intention with a Google search.
7. Conclusion: There are many large and small indications that indicate a spam email. Not every little abnormality is evidence. However, you should always critically review emails. Trust your gut feeling: If a message is not very pleasant to you, delete it.

Example of a typical spam email

Using an example (see picture), we now unmask a spam email. This is a relatively well-constructed specimen, which nevertheless reveals itself through many things. Supposedly it is a bill from Telekom:

• I am not a Telekom customer. That would actually make a further check of the mail superfluous.
• In addition, there seems to be something wrong with the address " ". It ends on "telekom.de". However, the point before the "@" is striking. Even if it's just a minor flaw, a company of this size most likely doesn't have such email addresses.
• The content of the mail appears to be relatively serious and is written without errors. However, I was not personally addressed by my name. It is also noticeable that the exact invoice amount is stated in the email. It is unusual. The amount is also very high. This is intended to lure the recipient out of the reserve: Many people are afraid that you will be charged unjustifiably high amounts or that you yourself have caused an excessive bill. You want to clarify the matter and therefore open the attachment or a link.
• The mail contains an attachment in the form of a packed ZIP file. Documents such as invoices are usually not sent in this opaque format.
• Google the name of the sender "Ralf Hoßbach", the headings of the first search results contain the terms "viruses", "fake", "rip off" and "warning".
• Conclusion: The email is definitely classified as spam and should be deleted immediately.

You can find a precise definition of spam mails in this practical tip.